Larchmont Temple Founder, Longtime Larchmont Resident Betty White Dies

Betty Goldstone White died at her home in Larchmont on June 15 at the age of 98.

A native of the Larchmont Manor, Betty White was born on March 22, 1915, to Morris and Beatrice Goldstone. Morris helped found the Larchmont Public Library and the Beach Point Club. Beatrice was active in the Garden Club of Larchmont.  Betty and her older sister Dora attended Chatsworth Avenue Elementary School. Dora Goldstone Stockman died at her home in Larchmont two years ago at age 97.   

Betty White graduated from Vassar College in 1936. She taught at Fieldston Ethical Culture Fieldston School. Her curriculum centered on the abdication of King Edward VIII to marry Wallis Simpson, the woman he loved.

In November 1938 Betty married Robert “Pimmy” Emelin White, also of Larchmont. They raised three children: Betsy Wice (David), Frederick Lazarus White (Katherine), and Emily White (Walter Klores). Her grandchildren are Nathaniel Wice (Esther Allen), Leila Wice (Miriam Budner), Stephen White (Catherine) and Caroline White; great-grandchildren Jacob Wice-Budner, Sean White, Martin White, and Sophie Wice-Budner.

With her husband Pimmy White, who died in 1995, Betty co-authored an architectural walk book for the Larchmont Manor. Pimmy was also from Larchmont—at first his family came for summer vacation to escape the heat of 1920's New York City, and then, after the second summer, moved year-round to Pryer Lane. 

Pimmy served on the School Board for the Mamaroneck Public Schools. He was an accomplished civil engineer, along with his father Lazarus White, and brother Edward “Woody” White, who also raised a family in Larchmont. Their engineering firm consulted on foundations for buildings, bridges, and tunnels, including the so-called “bathtub” foundation that survived the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001.  Felicia White Gossman, sister of Pimmy and Woody, also lived in Larchmont.

Betty White lived for 66 years at the end of Guion Lane on the bank of the Premium River that feeds the Mill Pond and the Long Island Sound. She will be remembered for her wit, her tennis game, her bridge game, her love of books, and her generosity to those in need. She was an active volunteer with the League of Women Voters, the Cub Scouts (a den mother), the Campfire Girls, and the Larchmont Public Library. She helped with the founding of the Larchmont Temple in 1948. She read to the blind and mastered Braille for transcribing books. A devoted grandmother, she thought nothing of day trips by train and plane to play with Nathaniel and Leila in Philadelphia, and Stephen and Caroline in Chicago. Until recently, she solved the Sunday Times puzzle in ink.

Instead of a funeral the family plans to schedule a memorial get-together in the fall.  Contributions may be made to the Friends of the Larchmont Public Library.